Compare the2025 Toyota Corolla CrossVS 2025 Audi Q3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Corolla Cross are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Corolla Cross is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi Q3, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Corolla Cross	Q3
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-8 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-24 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-24 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Brights	2.3 sec	No Warning
37 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.7 sec	No Warning

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Corolla Cross XLE has a standard Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Corolla Cross’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Corolla Cross and the Q3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla Cross is safer than the Audi Q3:

	Corolla Cross	Q3
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	191	326
Neck Injury Risk	33.6%	39%
Neck Stress	297 lbs.	343 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	330	346
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	32.9%	35%
Neck Stress	155 lbs.	186 lbs.
Neck Compression	36 lbs.	83 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Corolla Cross is safer than the Q3:

	Corolla Cross	Q3
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg Forces L/R	360/292 pounds	472/629 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla Cross is safer than the Audi Q3:

	Corolla Cross	Q3
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	330 lbs.	333 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	159
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	367 lbs.	632 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
HIC	239	504
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	47 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Corolla Cross is safer than the Q3:

	Corolla Cross	Q3
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.94 in	1.06 in
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	290 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	131	329
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	112 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.83 in	2.01 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.73 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	892 lbs.	1049 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Corolla Cross 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Corolla Cross for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q3.

There are over 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Corolla Cross’ warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Corolla Cross’ reliability 18 points higher than the Q3.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 50 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 128 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 29th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 19th.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Corolla Cross is faster than the Q3 45 TFSI:

	Corolla Cross	Q3
Zero to 60 MPH	8.4 sec	8.5 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Corolla Cross gets better mileage than the Q3:

			MPG
Corolla Cross
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/31 hwy
Q3
	AWD	40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
		45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/28 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Corolla Cross uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Q3 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The Corolla Cross has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Q3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Corolla Cross stops shorter than the Q3:

	Corolla Cross	Q3
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The Corolla Cross XLE AWD handles at .80 G’s, while the Q3 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Corolla Cross’ turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Q3’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Corolla Cross has a 2.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q3 (8.1 vs. 5.5 inches), allowing the Corolla Cross to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Toyota Corolla Cross may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 800 pounds less than the Audi Q3.

Passenger Space

The Corolla Cross has 4.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Q3 (88.4 vs. 84).

The Corolla Cross has 2.9 inches more front legroom and 1.4 inches more rear headroom than the Q3.

Cargo Capacity

The Corolla Cross has a much larger cargo volume than the Q3 with its rear seat up (25.5 vs. 23.7 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The Corolla Cross offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Q3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Corolla Cross has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q3 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Q3 Premium Plus’ cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Corolla Cross XLE’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Model Availability

The Toyota Corolla comes in sedan, four door hatchback and four door bodystyles; the Audi Q3 isn’t available as a sedan or four door hatchback.

The Corolla Cross is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Corolla Cross owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Corolla Cross will cost $140 to $1265 less than the Q3 over a five-year period.

The Corolla Cross will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Corolla Cross will retain 57.73% to 59.71% of its original price after five years, while the Q3 only retains 56.3% to 56.96%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Corolla Cross and the Audi Q3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Corolla Cross outsold the Audi Q3 by over three to one during 2023.

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